Skip to main content

Asus and Gigabyte reportedly developing VR tech, and that may not just mean headsets

Three+glasses FX en1
As major headsets like the Rift and HTC Vive creep ever closer towards a consumer release, other brands’ efforts at a full-scale VR headset are starting to pop up. Now two major brands, Asus and Gigabyte, are moving towards release as well, according to Taiwan-based outlet DigiTimes.

Asus’ plans were announced back in November, when the brand mentioned that it was exploring the possibility of building an augmented reality headset intended for use the Republic of Gamers line of gaming laptops. Obviously, running a VR/AR solution off a laptop requires some serious graphical horsepower, and it’s no coincidence that Asus has a liquid-cooled laptop on the way.

This time around, its said the brand is planning to launch a “wearable virtual reality devices to be used with its gaming notebooks.” That doesn’t necessarily imply a headset, and in fact most AR solutions are aided by special controllers and wearable tech. We’ve seen a proliferation of devices like the Virtuix Omni, a multi-directional treadmill, and NullSpace VR, a full tactile suit with haptic feedback. These projects will be essential to improving VR tech, and will surely be in many users’ homes alongside the headsets.

Gigabyte, on the other hand, seems a little more focused on the main event. Rumor has it the chip maker has teamed up with 3Glasses, a VR headset in its second developer edition. The current model, the D2 Vanguard, boasts an impressive 2,560 x 1,440 display, less than 13 milliseconds of latency, and a 110 degree field of view. Rumor has it that 3Glasses was looking for investors not long ago, and may have found one in Gigabyte.

Whatever may be bubbling up under the surface, we won’t have to wait long to find out. Both the Asus and Gigabyte VR offerings are scheduled to be out in the market in the first half of 2016, and CES is right around the corner.

Editors' Recommendations

Brad Bourque
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brad Bourque is a native Portlander, devout nerd, and craft beer enthusiast. He studied creative writing at Willamette…
Apple just patented a new VR headset controller — but there’s a catch
Apple VR Headset Concept by Antonio De Rosa

Apple’s mixed-reality headset is due to launch this June at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), and a freshly published patent hints at some of the controllers Apple might offer with the device. But some major caveats could prevent these accessories from ever seeing the light of day.

The patent (number 20230096068) describes how Apple could create a handheld controller with a “torque feedback mechanism” to provide immersive physical responses while using a mixed-reality headset. That might help offset the drawbacks of virtual input methods (like touchscreens), which can “detract from the realism” of the experience and leave a user unsure if their input has properly registered, according to Apple.

Read more
Apple’s Reality Pro headset just got demoed in a secret ceremony
A rendering of four Apple mixed-reality headsets (Reality Pro) in various colors sitting on a surface.

Apple’s mysterious Reality Pro headset just hit a major milestone last week when it was demonstrated in a large-scale ceremony to around 100 of the company’s top executives. That’s encouraging, as showing it off to so many high-ranking employees suggests the device is almost ready for launch.

The revelation comes from Mark Gurman’s weekly Power On newsletter, wherein the Bloomberg journalist explained that the event marks a notable turning point in the mixed-reality headset’s development ahead of its anticipated launch at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.

Read more
Some Apple staff concerned about its high-tech headset, report claims
A rendering of an Apple mixed-reality headset (Reality Pro) in a gray color seen from the front.

Apple is expected to launch its first mixed-reality headset in the next few months, but a report by the New York Times on Sunday suggests that some at the company have doubts about its potential for success.

Citing eight current and former Apple employees, the Times said that for some at the company, “enthusiasm has given way to skepticism” regarding the AR/VR headset, which is likely to be unveiled at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.

Read more